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Israeli Officials: 'Friendly Fire Incident Proves Beirut Government Has Granted Hezbollah Total Freedom Of Action To Open Fire As It Deems Fit'

Hezbollah's Downing Of Lebanese Chopper Indicates Volatility Of Situation Now That Beirut Has Sanctioned Hezbollah Attacks On Israel

In a case of mistaken identity, Hezbollah gunners have apparently shot down a Lebanese Army helicopter believing it to be Israeli. The chopper's navigator was killed and the pilot had to make an emergency landing.The incident occurred while the helicopter was making a low level flight occur what is known to be a Hezbollah stronghold in south Lebanon. Israeli officials told IsraCast: 'The friendly fire incident in effect proves the Beirut government has granted Hezbollah total freedom action to open fire on Israel'.

Abie Nathan was an Israeli humanist and peace activist. In 1973, Abie Nathan bought a ship with the help of John Lennon and named it "The Peace Ship". He founded the Voice Of Peace radio station, which was broadcasting 24 hours a day and promoting Nathan's political activities. While spreading his ideas to his audience, Nathan was also involved with disaster relief in Cambodia, Bangladesh, Biafra, Colombia, and Ethiopia.

Zalman Shoval: 'Syria's President Bashar Assad Has Shown His True Intentions By Offering To Deploy Russian Missiles On His Territory'

'Russian Refusal To Impose New Sanctions On Iran Will Increase Possibility Of Military Strike On Iran's Nuclear Installations'

'Russia Has No Interest In Reverting To New Cold War With U.S. In Middle East'

The crisis between Russia and the West over Georgia has started to impact on the Middle East. Syrian President Bashar Assad has now offered Russian President Sergey Medvedev to station Russian missiles on his territory, in retaliation to the American plan to station missiles in Poland and the Czech Republic. At the UN, there is also speculation that Moscow will now oppose further sanctions against Iran aimed at halting its nuclear weapons program. In an interview with IsraCast, Zalman Shoval a former Israeli ambassador to Washington, assesses the emerging situation.

Prof. Yehezkel Dror: 'What Has Happened In Georgia Should Have Been Apparent To Anyone Who Is Not Blind'

'The U.S. Can Now Be Expected To Reconsider Its Decision To Station Missiles Around Russia'

'The Lesson For Israel Is In the Potential Use Of Force & Not Putting Trust In UN Resolutions And So Forth For Its Security'

What should Israel learn from the bloody clash between the big power Russia and its small neighbor of Georgia? Has Russia almost overnight brought about a dramatic power shift in the international system that has been dominated by the U.S., since the breakup of the former Soviet Union? In an interview with IsraCast, Prof. Yehezkel Dror, a widely known expert on international relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, discusses these questions and others.

The Second Lebanon War was a 33-day military conflict in Lebanon and northern Israel between the Hezbollah terror organization and the Israeli Defence Forces. The conflict started on 12 July 2006, and continued until a United Nations-brokered ceasefire went into effect in the morning on 14 August 2006.

Dr. Dan Schueftan: 'New Lebanese Government Has Capitulated To Hezbollah & Now Bears Official Responsibility For Any Fresh Aggression Against Israel'

'Secretary Of State Condoleezza Rice Has Indicated There Is Minimal Chance That U.S. Will Attack Iran's Nuclear Sites'

'Israel Is Only One Serious About Stopping Tehran Although International Community Recognizes Gravity of Iranian Threat'

It's now official - the new Lebanese government has officially sanctioned any new Hezbollah aggression against Israel. What are the implications for the Beirut government that has always tried to dodge responsibility for the attacks by Hezbollah, the radical Islamist movement sponsored by Iran? In an interview with IsraCast, Dr. Dan Schueftan, an Israeli Middle East expert, assesses this new Lebanese situation as well as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's statement that the U.S. would not veto an Israeli military strike against Iranian nuclear installations.

Olmert's Critics: 'Nothing Has So Distinguished The Prime Minister's Term Of Office As His Leaving It'

Isracast: Will Shas Mentor Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Now Determine Who Will Be Israel's New Prime Minister?

Facing a plethora of police investigations, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has finally bowed out. In his ruling Kadima Party, front runners Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz, a former defense minister and IDF Chief of Staff', are now vying openly for party leadership and the chance to lead a new government coalition without going to an early election. However, IsraCast raises the possibility that Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, of the Shas ultra- orthodox Sepharadi party, may eventually determine who will become prime minister.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert: 'No Chance Of Agreement On

Jerusalem With Palestinians This Year - However Differences Are Small On Other Core Issues'

'Palestinian Refugee Issue Can Be Solved Outside Of Israel's Borders'

Knesset Members: 'What Is Olmert Talking About - He's On His Way Out Of Office!'

Although he is being investigated for political and financial corruption, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is not letting that interfere with his current contacts with both the Palestinians and Syrians. He has just briefed the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee on where things stand. However, most of the MKs told IsraCast that Olmert had no business conducting negotiations under the present circumstances and making concessions on his way out of office.

Shabak Security Chief Diskin: 'Hamas Has No Intention Of Ever Comprising With Israel's Existence - They See It As Either Them Or Us'

'Israel Has Thrown Hamas A Lifeline By Agreeing To Tahadiya Cease-fire'

'Hamas has no intention of ever compromising with Israel' - that's the assessment of Shabak security chief Yuval Diskin. In his view, Hamas sees it as 'either them or us!' and there was no place for the Jews in what was the sanctified Muslim land of all Palestine. (Hamas, like its Iranian ally, also calls for Israel's annihilation.) Diskin, who had recommended against the current cease-fire, contended that Israel had thrown Hamas a life-line after Israeli counter-strikes had severely damaged the fundamentalist regime in the Gaza Strip.

Shabak Chief Yuval Diskin: 'Now Necessary For Israel To Seal-up Or Demolish Homes Of Terrorist Killers In Jerusalem To Halt Current Wave Of Attacks'

Hamas: 'This Is Now Jerusalem Intifada With More Attacks On The Way'

The second Palestinian tractor attack in Jerusalem within three weeks has sounded alarm bells in Israel's capital city. Shortly before the latest assault, Shabak security chief Yuval Diskin actually predicted more acts of terrorism for Israel's capital. He warned it was 'very important' to start reimposing the sealing-up or demolition of terrorists family homes, otherwise Israel had no means of deterring would-be terrorists who lived inside Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Hamas has co-opted what appeared to be the individual attack by declaring a 'Jerusalem intifada'. Isracast assesses the problem of coping with Jerusalem's enemies within.

For the second time in a month, a Palestinian from East Jerusalem has carried out a terrorist attack using a speeding bulldozer - the terrorist deliberately plowed into five vehicles and narrowly missed a crowded bus. A number of Israeli civilians were injured before a nearby civilian and a policeman opened fire and shot dead the terrorist.

British Prime Minister Brown:'Britain, U.S. and European Partners Stand Prepared To Impose Further Sanctions Against Iran'

'Totally Abhorrent That President Of Iran Threatens To Wipe Israel Off Map Of The Earth!'

'Peace With Palestinians Is Now Within Israel's Grasp,You Must Seize The Opportunity'

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has reacted sternly to Iran's rejection of the latest international offer to halt the Iranian nuclear weapons program. The British leader was speaking in Israel's parliament the Knesset where he also called on the Jewish state to seize the opportunity to make a peace with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. IsraCast reports that Brown made clear that the international community is about to intensify its campaign to isolate Tehran, if it does start negotiating in good faith.

Israel's Resolve To Bring Home IDF Prisoners Dead Or Alive Weakens Bargaining Position But Serves As Source Of National Strength & Unity

Israel has gone through two of its most difficult days in recent times. The return of two IDF soldiers in coffins one day and their burial the next , was a time of personal mourning for most Israelis. After Sergeants Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were laid to rest, the full focus of attention turns to Corporal Gilad Shalit, abducted in a another cross border raid over two years ago and apparently held captive in the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip. IsraCast reports that the debate over releasing living terrorists for dead IDF soldiers will continue, yet Israel's willingness 'to pay the price' is felt by many Israelis as a source of national strength and unity.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak: 'Israel Is Not Deterred From Activity When Its Vital Interests Are At Stake!'

IsraCast: 'Although Israel May Not Be First Country To Introduce Nuclear Weapons Into Middle East, Neither Will It Allow Any Other Country Be The First To Do So'

Home Front Command: 'We Have Learned Lessons Of Second Lebanon War - We're Ready To Cope With Hezbollah Missile Attack'

On July 12th 2006, Hezbollah launched a deadly cross border raid from south Lebanon ambushing an IDF motorized patrol, killing several soldiers and abducting two others, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Simultaneously, Iran's proxy, the Hezbollah forces inside south Lebanon launched a massive rocket attack on towns and villages in northern Israel. It was an attack that triggered the Second Lebanon War. IsraCast analyzes the strategic situation two years later amid the Iranian nuclear threat that may soon face the Jewish state.

Iranian Official: 'Iran Will Attack Tel Aviv & U.S. Fleet In the Gulf, If Israel Or U.S. Launch Raid On Iran'

'Iranian Regime Fears Popular Uprising In Event Of Israeli Or U.S. Operation Against Nuclear Sites'

Iranian military forces are conducting fresh maneuvers amid threats that Iran will attack Israel's biggest metropolitan area of Tel Aviv and the U.S fleet in the Gulf, if Israel or the U.S. launch a preemptive strike against Iran's nuclear sites. Just how strong militarily is Iran today? In the second of a two-part interview with IsraCast, analyst Menashe Amir assesses the Iranian conventional weapons threat.

Menashe Amir: 'Iran's Latest Response Is Aimed Solely At Gaining Time For Nuclear Program Until U.S. Presidential Election'

'Iran Will Agree To Dialogue While Refusing To Give In On Its Uranium Enrichment Project'

'Iranians Want To Buy Not Only SA-20 Air Defense System From Russia, But Also More Advanced S-300'

What has been Teheran's response to the latest international offer to halt its uranium enrichment, the basis for its nuclear weapons development? What reaction has there been in Iran to the recent Israel Air Force exercise over the Mediterranean that might have been a simulated attack on Iran's nuclear installations? Menashe Amir, an Israeli expert on Iran, assesses both the diplomatic and military aspects of the current confrontation in a two part interview with IsraCast's David Essing. The first segment deals with the current diplomatic campaign and its ramifications.

For the second time in four months, a Palestinian resident of Eastern Jerusalem has carried out a mass terror attack in Israel's capital. A tractor driver went on a killing spree crushing three Israelis and injuring dozens more as raced at high speed crashing into two buses and many cars along crowded Jaffa Street. IsraCast says Israeli security officials are concerned that similar type attacks may be attempted in the near future.

Israel Signaling: 'We have No Intention Of Becoming Another Czechoslovakia While World Watches Iran Develop Nuclear Weapons'

U.S. Pentagon Official: 'U.S. Is Concerned That Israel Will Attack Iran Before End Of Year'

For the second time in as many days, a top Israeli security expert has warned that Israel is prepared to strike Iran's nuclear installations, if Tehran continues its drive to acquire the bomb. This time, Kadima Knesset Member Isaac Ben-Israel, an IDF Maj. Gen.(res.) told the German magazine Der Spiegel that Israel was now prepared to carry out such an operation today. In Washington, a Pentagon official has warned that the U.S. is concerned that Israel might launch such an operation by the end of the year and before a new president enters the White House.